ROCKFORD — Criminal justice professionals from around the state will convene in Rockford this month to help area law enforcement look for new ways to tackle crime.

The conference was initiated by Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen, who called for a crime summit in his State of the County address April 25 to “bring in experts who have been successful in tackling crime in their communities to help us succeed in our efforts.”

The invitation-only Winnebago County Public Safety Summit — Christiansen said other forums will be open to the community — will bring together police, criminal justice and political experts with experienced law enforcement officials from places like Northwestern University, the city of Chicago and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

The goal is to examine law enforcement practices, efforts to reduce recidivism and the jail population, and other components for a safer community.

The former police chief hopes to provide a framework for best practices based on the community’s needs. Collaboration between law enforcement and the community will be key to implementing new, successful methods, he said.

“No outsider, I don’t care how great an expert a person might be touted as, no one knows that community like the people that live in that community,” Bradford said.

“The key to any best practices is empowering the stakeholders to recognize and develop their own best practice and customize their solutions for individual problems and issues.”